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Monday 19 Nov 2018

Changes to train services in February 2019 as Network Rail upgrades railway in Derbyshire

Region & Route:

| Eastern

Network Rail is giving passengers advance notice of a six days of changes to train services between Derby and Matlock from 10 February to 16 February 2019, as work takes place to upgrade the railway in Derbyshire.

The work will see Ambergate Junction, the point where the Matlock branch line leaves the Midland Main Line, renewed in the second phase of a £13million investment which will increase the speed at which trains can travel on this section of track. To allow the work to be carried out safely, no trains will be able to run on the line with bus replacement services between Matlock and Derby and vice versa in place. Passengers are advised to check before they travel.

The work will see the junction renewed, as well as work to the signalling. The scheme will also create a new, safe walkway for Network Rail engineers when they carry out future maintenance work.

This work is the second phase of the project and follows on from a significant amount of work which took place during the recent Derby Resignalling Project.  This included installing over 1km of new track, installing new signalling equipment, dropping 3,600 tonnes of ballast and relocating the junction. Newly released time-lapse footage by Network Rail shows the scale of the work.

 

Rob McIntosh, Network Rail Route Managing Director, said: “We took advantage of the recent Derby Resignalling project to do as much work at Ambergate as we could, however the extent of the work has meant it has been necessary to complete it in two phases. We are always seeking to strike the balance between efficient use of time and minimum passenger disruption.

“We appreciate that closing the line between Derby and Matlock for six days will be inconvenient for passengers and we thank them for their patience whilst we carry out these vital improvements at Ambergate, which will increase the linespeed and bring a more robust timetable for passengers in the years to come.”

Jake Kelly, Managing Director for East Midlands Trains said: “We are working closely with Network Rail to minimise the disruption to our passengers between Derby and Matlock whilst this important work takes place.

“We are planning to operate replacement buses along the same route used during the recent Derby Resignalling work, which worked very successfully. There will also be some changes to East Midlands Trains services between Sheffield, Derby and London.

“This is crucial improvement work which will deliver long term benefits for the railway in the East Midlands and we will work with Network Rail to ensure that we publish as much information as early as possible to ensure people are aware of their journey options during this time.” 

ENDS